Weight off the mind as hoop Patrick Holmes continues golden form at Eagle Farm

PATRICK Holmes hopes his magical month can be a springboard to bigger riches in south east Queensland.

Patrick Holmes: "Given the right opportunities, I feel I am up to anyone going...

JOCKEY Patrick Holmes hopes his magical month can be a springboard to bigger riches in south east Queensland.

Holmes earned lavish praise from trainer Peter Hulbert after steering Endless Puzzle to a maiden success at Eagle Farm yesterday.

The win was Holmes' ninth in his past 20 rides, marking his most successful few weeks since he moved to Queensland 18 months ago.

Having ridden in Macau and been a Group 1 winner as an apprentice in New Zealand, 26-year-old Holmes wants to be a consistent winner in Brisbane.

"Given the right opportunities, I feel I am up to anyone going around," Holmes said.

"I rode about 200 winners as an apprentice, including a Group 1 winner, so I had a bit of luck early. I just have to keep my weight down.

"I'm flying at the moment, so hopefully I can keep it going now."

Holmes said weight had hindered his career, but he consistently rides on the 54kg limit now.

His Doomben rides on Saturday include in-form sprinter The Black Superman, who has the limit, in the Country Cup.

Hulbert said it was a perfect ride to steer home Endless Puzzle, who will now head for a break to further mature.

"He's big and gangly and just all legs at the moment," Hulbert said.

Earlier, John Meagher and his sons Daniel and Chris produced perhaps the most promising horse they have had in Queensland when staying prospect Smart Huss ambled home in the Bundaberg Race Club Maiden (1300m).

"He's out of a half-sister to the Cox Plate winner Solvit, so he's got plenty of scope to get over more ground," Meagher said of the three-year-old Husson gelding.

Smart Huss sat off the odds-on favourite Drum Line and quickly got the better of him in the straight before racing away to win by two lengths.

Punters got it spot on when Cheval De Feu landed a $7 to $4.60 move in the Lockyer Race Club Class 4 (1400m).

Apprentice Rikki Jamieson was able to gain a cheap lead and then allowed to coast through the first 800m in 50.56sec before zipping home in 34.55sec for the last 600m, giving her pursuers little hope.